Luckily, these days there are a lot of schools that offer this kind of opportunity to such kids. In New York City, for example, the Bard Early College branches in Manhattan and Queens are sterling examples. For 21 years, they have allowed kids to earn in their four years not just a high school diploma but also an associate degree, after which they can then enroll in college as juniors and get a B.A. And because the schools exist in partnership with the public school system, they are free. Call it an equalizing tool for teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Bard schools have served as a model for what has been a kind of quiet explosion of similar programs nationwide: There are now about 400, with Bard having founded its own in Newark, Cleveland, New York’s Hudson Valley, New Orleans, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Crucially, these early college arrangements tend to have a strong social justice mission. For example, the Bard Early College programs focus on giving this opportunity to underprivileged kids by encouraging them to apply. In 2022, of the more than 3,000 students enrolled at eight sites, over half were the first in their families to go to college; almost half were Black, a vast increase from 2003, when their share was one in five. Also, the rigor of the curriculum is outstanding preparation for the last two years of college. Eighty-six percent of Bard Early College students go on to get B.A.s within six years, as opposed to a national average of 63 percent of college students who graduate.
In discussions about alternatives to the standard public school trajectory for disadvantaged kids, charter schools have tended to dominate. However, early college programs should play a larger role in those conversations, given the high rates at which their students graduate from college. For example, only 39 percent of students who attend the KIPP academies, a large network of charter schools, for middle and high school go on to finish college within five years. Also, early college students have to pay for only two years of college.
Early college programs targeting Black and brown kids, instructing them to do college-level work while in high school, are one way to compensate for the fact that racial preference policies in college admissions have been ruled unconstitutional. To the extent that that practice tended to benefit affluent over poorer Black and Latino applicants, early college programs’ focus on students of lesser means revises the classist imbalance inherent in the old system.
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Felecia Phillips Ollie DD (h.c.) is the inspiring leader and founder of The Equality Network LLC (TEN). With a background in coaching, travel, and a career in news, Felecia brings a unique perspective to promoting diversity and inclusion. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Communications, she is passionate about creating a more inclusive future. From graduating from Mississippi Valley State University to leading initiatives like the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Felecia is dedicated to making a positive impact. Join her journey on our blog as she shares insights and leads the charge for equity through The Equality Network.
